Language binds us together across the world
Marge Pärnits, writer, translator and Head of Development at the Tartu Toy Museum, read the works submitted by Estonian children living abroad to the creative competition ‘My Books’ organised by Üleilmakool (Global School) and concluded that language is what connects us all across the world. It does not matter whether you live in Finland, Ireland or Indonesia – the adventures of Sipsik, Lotte and Harry Potter will serve as a shared conversation topic even when you have grown up.
These lines were written in a not quite summery garden in a little quiet corner of Tartu’s Karlova district. The children who submitted their stories and images about books to Üleilmakool’s creative competition live all around the world. However, they all have the Estonian language running through their veins. Some children have more words flowing in their river of language than others, some have joined other branches, some are overflowing. Yet I have a feeling in my heart that these little rivers are flowing quite close to me, somewhere around the Emajõgi River.
What and how did the children write?
The nearly 50 works submitted to the competition from 12 countries included brief book summaries as well as long and fascinating contemplations, fictional stories, comic strips and pictures. Each and every one reflects the age, knowledge, experiences and perceptions of the child. The youngest participants were only two years old – having seen their older sisters and brothers contribute, they also wanted to show their creativity. The largest age group was 10-12-year-olds, who already have some experience with reading books. The diligent 16-year-olds could show off their passion for reading and their resulting excellent way with words.
“I have read about 150 books in my life. It is not much but I am only 12,” Oskar, who lives in Finland, wrote. This is no small amount and if you have the skill of reading in several languages, a young person can already have quite a colourful and diverse world view.
We are living in the age of globalisation. Our children travel with us, they get a passport before they learn to walk and speak several languages in kindergarten. Greta Madeleine, who lives in France, wrote in her submission:
“I like that through books, you can travel, experience and feel something completely new. I am particularly interested in crime and romance because there is always tension and emotions. I read books in Estonian, French, German, and English.”
After reading these submissions, I felt gratitude towards all the children who submitted their works to the competition and of course, their parents and teachers who have helped to preserve and learn Estonian. Many children had illustrated their works and it was a joy to see that they considered the pictures in the books they had read important – in several submissions, the accompanying images were quite close imitations of the original illustrator’s style. Just as reading develops linguistic skills and expands vocabulary, illustrations stimulate artistic perception and contribute to motor skills. This is why it was fun to see the comic strips that were submitted to the competition. I would like to highlight one by 10-year-old Adele, who lives in Finland. She made a comic strip with a very sensitive touch, telling the story of a sad and bored fish who lives in a tank and whose life is transformed by literature. “... I began to read and read. Finally, I read so much that I was overcome by books,” Adele wrote on the last image of her comic strip. A discerning viewer may notice that the fish is reading the children’s book Pätu.
Why write about what you have read instead of just talking about it?
I believe that many children were, in a good way, forced to contemplate on what they had read. After all, we, grown-ups, also sometimes just browse books or lazily read diagonally across the pages. As children, this kind of browsing comes even more easily – sometimes you don’t feel like it, sometimes you can’t be bothered, sometimes a friend messages you and directs your attention elsewhere. Sometimes you have to read for school, sometimes a parent tells you that you cannot go online unless you have read 10 pages. However, almost all submissions show that the children were impressed by the book(s) they had read. In the age of globalisation and perpetually online life, this is something to be grateful for.
Of course, answers can be found in the children’s submissions. Vanessa, who lives in Finland and read the book Printsessilood (Princess Stories), notes philosophically: “I want to be the princess of my own life and that every girl reads this story and believes in happiness.” Annabel, also based in Finland, found a wonderful link between neurodivergence and reading: “I have ADH but when I am reading, it feels like I am in a fairy tale world of my own where I am eating meatball soup and chocolate candy.”
Why is it good to read and not only during the Year of the Estonian Book?
This question, too, was answered in one of the children’s submissions. Naturally, reading is good for you because it develops your language skills. However, Laura, who lives in Mexico, wrote down the following wise words:
“... the most important reason I like books is that I also write them. I usually like to write about mysteries, horror and magic. I hope that I will also become a famous author one day.”
Not all the children who submitted works to the competition may grow up to be writers. However, some definitely will. Others will become clever grown-ups who, in addition to several other languages, have Estonian running in their veins, and when meeting each other, they find a common topic that can be a favourite comic strip from their childhood or a dream that has been long forgotten. A dream of receiving an invitation to Hogwarts on your 11th birthday. A dream of belonging to the Secret Society of Supilinn. A dream of knowing a language so well that you can read all the Estonian books in the library.
Look at the submissions:
https://yleilmakool.ee/loovtoode-voistlus-minu-raamatud/
